Key for voting-machines.



No. 760,056. PATENTED MAY '17, 1904. T. GORY.

KEY FUR VOTING MACHINES. APPLIOATION FILED MAB. 9, 190s.

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UNITED STATES Patented May 1'?, 1904.

THOMAS OORY, OF `LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

KEY FOR VOTING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 760,056, dated May 1*?, 1904.

Application filed March 9, 1903. Serial No. 1/6,94=8. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS OORY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, county of Los Angeles, State et California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Keys for Voting-Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and eXact description oi the same.

Under the present system of constructing voting-machines the key is simply used to designate by number the candidate to be voted for oiiice, there being arranged alongside of the voting-keys a plate or slip containing the names of the candidates for oiiice. The head of each key generally-is provided or stamped with a number, which number corresponds with the name of the candidate appearing' on the plate to be operated to cast a ballot for such candidate. In some cases the votingkeys are not numbered. Whatever may be the arrangement of keys the same are distinct from the list of candidates so far as relates to movement. The general practice in connection with the casting ot` a vote mechanically is simply to depress the voting-key appearing opposite the name or' the candidate you desire to elect to ofiice. Usually a number 'oi' party tickets appear on each ballot-sheet, the party tickets being arranged in parallel columns. The result is, as disclosed by practical working of this class of machines at held elections, that the voter ofttimes deprcsses the votingkey appearing at the left-hand side or' the party slip instead of the key arranged at the righthand side, thereby casting a vote for the opponent of the candidate desired to be elected.

Although rules or directions as to voting' the press the name of the candidate with the` movement of the voting-key, thereby rendering it impossible to cast a vote for the Wrong candidate without deliberately depressing the name-plate or card of such candidate for oilice.

To comprehend the invention, reference should be had to the accompanying sheet of drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a top plan View, partly broken away, disclosing th'e arrangement of a series oi' the improved voting-keys with a votingmachine; Fig. Q, a detail perspective View of one of the improved voting-keys. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of one of the Voting-keys, and Fig. L a plan view of the key with the retaining-slide for the candidates name-plate or card partly removed.

The number 4L designates the stem of the improved voting-key, which key-stem is formed, preferably, with an elongated head 5. This head serves as a holding-frame for the name-plate, slip, or card 6 of the candidate to be voted for by said voting-key; The holding frame has its edges 7 inwardly flanged to prevent the name-plate, card, or slip 6 being raised from Within its seat. To provide against removal ot the name-plate, card, or slip from within the head-iframe, a retainingslide 8 is utilized. This slide slips beneath the name-plate, card, or slip (i within the headframe, its outer end 9 forming an end for the open end of the said head-frame. The upper portion of the slide. end 9 is iianged over to form an edge 10 for preventing removal of the name-plate, card, or slip 6. ln length the slide 8 is approximately one-half that of the head or head-frame 5, so that a portion oi' the under surface of the name-plate, card, or slip rests upon'the upper face oi' the head or headframe and upper surface of the retainingslide. Any suitable adhesive substance is applied to the under face of the name-plate, card, or slip, so as to cause same to adhere or stick iirmly t0 the upper surface of the head or head-frameand upper surface of the retainingslide. 1t will be apparent that any other manner of uniting' the name-plate, card, or ticket containing the name o't' the candidate to be voted for may be employed. However, preference is given to the mode described, owing to its simplicity and inexpensiveness.

It will be understood that the number of the candidate is either stamped on the head of the Voting-key or printed on the name-plate, card, or slip, so as to enable the voter to cast his ballot by reference to either the name of the candidate or voting-number or' the key.

To protect the name-plate, card, or slip from mutilation, the same is providedy Witha suitable transparent cover ll.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be protected by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination with the stem of a voting-key, of a frame secured to the upper end thereof, .said frame having a seat therein for the reception of a name-plate or card of the candidate to be voted for by such key, and a slide-plate Working Within the seat of the frame for holding the said name-plate or card therein, said slide-plate being united thereto. 2. The combination With the stem of a voting-key, of a head-frame secured thereto, a receiving-seat therein for the reception of a naine-plate, card or ticket of the candidate to be voted for by such key, a slide-plate Working Within the head-frame for holding the name-plate, card or ticket Within its seat, a portion of the card or name-plate being united to the head-frame and a portion to the slideplate in order to prevent its Withdrawal Without mutilation thereof.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

THOMAS CORY.

Witnesses: v

J. W. PHELPS, R. W. KINSEY. y 

